SOC 17-2171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Petroleum Engineers — Charleston
Charleston, WV
At $88,860, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Petroleum Engineers, 38.7% beneath the national figure of $144,910.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $88,860, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Petroleum Engineers, 38.7% beneath the national figure of $144,910. Pay ranges from under $79,780 at the tenth percentile to more than $196,510 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $84,300 to $108,130.
Employment stands at 80, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 341 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 40th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,780 | −44.9% |
| 25th | $84,300 | −41.8% |
| Median (50th) | $88,860 | −38.7% |
| 75th | $108,130 | −25.4% |
| 90th | $196,510 | +35.6% |
| Mean | $112,480 | −22.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $88,860 goes as far as $99,285 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$88,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$99,285US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $88,860 a year, 38.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,780 to $196,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Petroleum Engineers in Charleston, WV?
The median annual wage is $88,860, or $42.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $144,910, so pay in Charleston, WV is 38.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Charleston, WV earns more than $196,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,780 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, WV. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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